Four days after the Midland-based Pennsylvania Cyber School fired four top administrators and its solicitor, the state Department of Education released test results that showed PA Cyber students failed to achieve state standards during the 2011-2012 school year.

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46 comments:

I talk to parents weekly and believe me they are highly informed, intelligent and can see exactly what is going on in today's schools. Do you have children currently in school or are you a professional in education? If so, please share with me your insight and reasons you feel standarized testing is accurate and a resourseful measurement of school performance. Look up Diane Ratvick on google. One of the founders of NCLB who now retracts the whole idea and admits how wrong they were when they constructed it.

Captainkirk, here is an article other than the comics that may be lucid for you http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/03/news/economy/unemployment-rate/index.htm btw sorry for interupting your time with the hand in the cookiie jar while you are reading the comics. that dilbert he is always into something huh???

The highlight of the article should have been how the other Beaver County schools failed to make AYP. PA Cyber has schools from all across the state, not just Beaver County.

Blackhawk is an embarrassment and the taxpayers should demand more from their administrators and elected school board. This is completely unacceptable in a district whose mission statement is to provide "all students with a rigorous learning environment in order to be highly successful and competitive in a global community." If the students cannot pass a state assessment, how are they going to be prepared to compete globally?

The district teaches to the middle. The classes spend too much time reviewing material from the previous year instead of moving forward. Most students in the younger grades do not learn any new math until about November and they improperly implement the Accelerated Reader program to the point that it should be called "decelerated reader." This report comes as no surprise to this taxpayer. In a conversation with their new head of curriculum we learned that they did away with some successful high school programs. For what reason? Personal preference rather than sound educational policy? Instead of focusing their resources on all day kindergarten and expensive renovation projects, they should have focused on improving student performance by providing engaging, hand on learning activities for all students.

The students in Blackhawk deserve better and the administration needs to give the teachers the opportunity to do better. (BTW - I do not have any relatives working for the district.)

No shockers here. However, who will be punished when the PA Cyber student returns to their local school with no credits and doesn't graduate? You guessed it, the local school. I'm sure many students benefit from a cyber program, however, the majority of the kids I see attending it do so as a cop-out from life.

@Guido: For Lincoln Park, what scores you talking, son? Lincoln Park has made AYP six years in a row -- every year it has been open. Lincoln Park has the top reading and writing scores in the county this year, and is in the upper echelon for math and science. The graduation rate is 100%. Lincoln Park's average SAT scores are in the same league as Beaver and Quaker Valley. And obviously, Lincoln Park has arts programs that are unrivaled. I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to guess Lincoln Park's faculty is much younger than the faculty of surrounding schools. I guess what people say about the arts and academic achievement is true, so if Baden has this kind of success, that will be a good thing for the area. I don't understand your final point about Steve C's niece -- did he hire an unqualified relative?

another thing for Devotedtoedu, you suggest that we measure schools by parent feedback. Look around and consider the intelligence of the average person and then consider half of them are dumber. You also said those that came up with this horrible method not say it was a bad idea. Who exactly are those people and where is it said so we can look it up.

Devotedtoedu, I am not an educator but are you telling me that other states us the PSSA ( Pennsylvania System of School Assessment) testing? While any testing procedure will be questioned by someone why are SAT scores not considered for student and teacher assessment. Colleges use SAT,ACT scores as well as class rank dont they?Well I found some interesting FACTS on the PSSA website. Below is a 3 year average 2009,2010,2011 for Verbal and math scores for a few schools. They are averaged excluding the writing portion for obvious reasons.524 Beaver509 Blackhawk508 PA Cyber500 Southside491 Lincoln Park465 Cornell444 Rochester393 Aliquippa

But you always hear how innovative the baden/pa cyber/lincoln park is and then you see the scores. There was the big times advertisement for the baden charter that showed how young looking all the teachers were so I would think it was for the majority even steve c. niece first teaching job.

Here's the way the funding goes: PA Cyber begat Lincoln Park, which begat NNDS, which begat Prima Learning Center, which begat Avanti, which begat Baden Academy! When was the last time you heard of your school district having a money surplus (that totals in the millions) that's able to fund for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises? This is the bigger story!

@RamDynasty -- you talking Rochester Ram dynasty? If so, PA Cyber blows dear old Rochy's SAT scores out of the water, son. But hey, you all had a good football team for a while, so I guess that covers a multitude of sins!

PSSAs are not the best tool to evaluate schools, teachers or students for many reasons. The first being that these tests are given in March, seven months into the school year. This means an entire year's worth of curriculum must be taught by March. The PSSA results are given the next school year, this information is meaningless as it can not inform a teacher of a students strengths or weaknesses and the direction his or her teaching should move to help their student grow and learn. The best way to evaluate would be a growth model assessment, that measures how far each student grows instead of whether or not a student gets to the finish line. Children do not enter school at the same place developmentally, therefore it is impossible and improbable to get them all to the same place by the end of third grade. PSSAs are a state tool to hold control over school districts. Now that the Common Core standards have been accepted across the U.S.. Pennsylvania has to put their own spin on it. It's time to put someone who actually knows something about education in charge of the department.

Look beyond this area for once! Testing issues are not just happening in Western PA. It is the entire state. BTW, many states have filed and have been approved for a waiver to put an end to PSSA's because as many know, they are a joke. Has PA even applied? Those who came up with this horrible inaccurate method of measurement are now saying it is all a mistake. Many schools in other states have been caught cheating to get the funding. It seems a little too ironic for me that scores dropped all over now that the Department of Education placed tougher rules and restrictions for testing to prevent the chance for cheating. Those who understand education and know how children learn, understand that these tests mean nothing. Many kids who are very capable in the classroom do not test well. Hours and days of tests to prove what they know? You know how many kids do not even try? They are told, “These do not count against you.” It is just ridiculous and will never be accurate. Wake up and start measuring schools based off of parent feedback and where families are choosing to place their kids. Listen to families for once. We are making teachers spend half the year teaching to a test. It is wrong and we are cheating our children out of many opportunities to learn. The burn out rate for teachers is higher than it ever was. They give up. How can anyone work in such a system and sleep at night? How can anyone know they have to leave kids behind and focus on the ones they think will get the highest scores to get the money? No Child Left Behind? I know many who have been and many who will continue to be if this continues. http://standardspeaker.com/news/rendell-dismisses-cheating-link-to-test-scores-1.1378299

imagine blackhawk being on a failure list...well lets see. first we are building an overpriced school addition, next we are showing subjective presentations on sexting and cyber bullying. where are the priorities.maybe the overloaded and over paid administration should take a look at what they are doing cause they have totally lost the meaning of educating students. where is our dean of cirriculum's accountibility on this. maybe it is time for the school board to step up and hold the administration accountible

What amazes me is that the excuses being brought forward in defense of abysmal scores for PA Cyber are ignored for other schools.

"students came to PA Cyber behind" blah blah... Ever think due to complete parental irresponsibility and indifference that many students enter Ambridge, Aliquippa, and others several years behind?

Also, PA Cyber in comparison to other county schools?? Easy... last!! in almost EVERY grade category. For example... only 31.2% of PA Cyber 11th grade students passed the PSSA. 31.2%!!

Hey, but don't worry... I'm sure the latest free Midland propaganda insert published and paid for by NNDS which half of which has articles on Lincoln Park and advertisements for PA Cyber will gloss this over and put a positive spin on this. When are the Baden Academy inserts starting? How much did those half page color "meet our faculty" ads that ran for 2 weeks cost in tax dollars??

Boy, the Times must be desperate for article attention because they have to place PA Cyber as part of the headline, yet there were many other failing schools in the area. Keep in mind that PA Cyber is state-wide and you are comparing them to only Beaver County schools. Education does not just take place in the classroom. Parent and families need to take more responsibility for education their children. Learning does not stop once a student leaves the building. This is what many PA Cyber families already know. They want more control over their child's education. PA Cyber tests more students than any other school, many of whom have previously attended failing school. When they come to PA Cyber, they are in many circumstances, grade levels behind where they should be and PA Cyber has to work with the students and families to build the students up from the foundation. On the other hand, they have students who want to excel and do so very well!

I would like to say upfront that I am a parent of 2 PA Cyber students. This is our family's 3rd year with the school and we have been very pleased overall with the education our children are receiving. My children do not sit in front of a computer for their lessons, but receive a large percentage of their instruction directly from me. We have found the staff at PA Cyber to be encouraging, helpful, and ready to assist us in any way needed to ensure that our children succeed. Because of the hard work my children put into their schooling, and the extra assistance from PA Cyber, my 3rd grader is reading on a 12th grade level and my 1st grader is one full grade ahead. They are bright, happy, well-adjusted children who have opportunities for social growth & development at home, in the community, and through enrichment classes that PA Cyber offers. I realize that there is no perfect school, there are issues at PA Cyber, I'm sure, but to focus the majority of the article on PA Cyber is irresponsible. To get a true picture of the job PA Cyber is doing educating the students of Beaver County, we would need to see the percentages based on the students who reside in Beaver County. How does the school stack up against other county schools? If PA Cyber was based in Philadelphia, would this even be an issue?

I read several comments on this article that made assumptions about PA Cyber and the way it educates students. The fact of the matter is, each student's experience with PA Cyber will be different, based on the philosophy of the school.Rather than complaining and attacking individuals and districts, perhaps our time would be better spent asking what the schools that have made AYP are doing well and what those who failed to make it can do to improve their schools. Thank you.

Guido, I most certainly do not work for any school system. I work for Charlie. And I must say, that was one of the most impressive run-on sentences I've ever seen.

But I am a taxpayer and I don't like what I see. I don't like the way this district is handled and what is going on in the schools. I don't like that people in other districts turn their nose up when I tell them where we live. It's embarrassing. AASD needs to try a new approach because clearly what they're doing is not working. AASD is viewed as low class and quite poor, however our taxes say otherwise. SOMETHING needs to change.

Tiger,So if I give you a dollar, and the state gives me 30 cents back, how does that make me better off? Every school district is having problems balancing their budget while the charter schools are making a killing. Let me guess, you just think thats totally cooincidental?

Why are schools setting up there own charter school to stop losing money, if according to you, they are "getting" 30 cents on the dollar?

What i meant by "double" is the price that school districts pay (~9,000 per child) to the charter schools is definitely more than is needed, which once again is supported by the fact the charter schools are swimming in money ala scrooge mcduck, while school districts are having to cut all kind of programs.

I dont really blame the charter schools, its just a dumb loophole in the law they are exploiting. Thanks for the math lesson though.

Zippy -- and your point is? Again: Lincoln Park makes AYP in every year of its existence; it's standardized test scores are among the best in the region, SAT scores, too; graduation rate, 100%; kids getting major college scholarships, kids working on projects with CMU and MIT; just saw a story of one young woman who recently graduated doing well in the professional ranks...seems like a school that is making the grade...

Parents need to put in the time and effort to make sure that homework is given by the teachers and completed by the students. Homework is practice !!! You don't progress in playing a sport or a musical instrument without practice. Same goes for education -- you have to practice......do your homework ! ! ! ! Teachers are being told to 'not give homework' and the homework that is given isn't allowed to be graded -- RIDICULOUS !!! No wonder test scores are so low.

Headline should have read - "STUDENTS FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES DON'T TEST WELL - LIKELY NOT TO GRADUATE"

Until we stop pointing the fingers at scools and teachers and start addressing the real problem, parents that just don't care, we will never solve the problem. Any logical person can see that these statistics are just the result of demographics. Districts with a larger percentage of studens from "broken homes" aren't going to score as well.

As far as PA Cyber - of coarse they are going to have a larger drop out rate. They are getting many students who didn't score well in their home district. This is not that district's fault - it's the parents.

To the PA Cyber parents who are sending your kids their because they performed well in their home district, but you think they can benefit from an alternative style education - obviously I am not referring to you or your kids. Quite frankly, kids like yours should be the only kids PA Cyber is willing to accept. But they won't - because it all comes down to money.

Bottom line - if you are a good parent and you push your kids to do well academically, your kids are going to do well whether they attend Blackhawk, Aliquippa, Ambridge, Rochester, or the PA Cyber School.

Maybe these districts should look at the time spent on sports against the time on actual learning. See the paper today? Football, boys and girls golf, girls volleyball, cross country, tennis, boys and girls soccer... No wonder they get out at 2:15; we have to practice and play into the night. And maybe the Midland school empire should quit worrying about getting David Bowie's pianist at Lincoln Park and recruiting basketballers to revive the Midland hoop glory days and get some better instruction for the kids. It's more than ball games and "American Karaoke" auditions. [wink]

Finally an article on how great the cyber/charter school is. It is clear that the for profit schools have no vested interest in the children other than they will gladly take your tax money, claim to have a better product soley for the benfit of their higher margin for revenue based on lower opperating costs and pay retired teachers and their children and releatives for something that if these retired teachers would have practiced what now preach then maybe the schools they left would have had a better reputation instead of trying to look good in the eyes of others. Kelly garret prolly works for the cyber/charter...

@jackson Re:BadenThat's why I don't understand why any school district, like Blackhawk, would start a pre-school program at this point. A charter, like Baden, could open up a pre-school in Chippewa, and the school district would have to pay for all the 3 and 4 year olds to attend. If the school district doesn't have that program, they don't have to pay a charter for kids that age. So, Blackhawk only let a limited number attend their new program, but they could end up paying for pre-school for every kid in the district.

On a positive note, graduation numbers across the county actually look pretty good.

"So IF you are alluding that the kids you claim to know were uncivil because they had a home education..."

You misunderstood me. If I was not cyberschooling, I'd be home schooling. Home education does not produce anti-social behavior as a rule. The moms I know that are pulling their kids out of brick and mortar schools are doing so because their child was bullied or made to feel socially unwelcome.

All kids can trend either way. Anti-social behavior that interfears with learning can happen anywhere, but often it happens more frequently in larger groups, such as classrooms. If you think kids do not pick up social cues in school, you are mistaken. We learn from people, wherever they are. :)

PA Cyber, taking many of the struggling kids from other school, along with the fact that they are taking classes behind a computer screen instead of in the presence of a teacher, just sooooo surprising their scores are low.... The upside for PA Cyber is that they get roughly twice what it actually cost to educate a child from their previous district!

I get why PA Cyber is the headline - the angle of the story is whether or not these test scores have anything to do with the recent terminations. Fair enough. It's also true that a number of districts in the county didn't make the AYP benchmarks, and that even within the school districts that did, there are several schools that didn't make AYP (for example, Dutch Ridge Elementary in the Beaver District). Seems like the testing targets are getting to a place where it will be darn near impossible for many or even most schools to hit them. A link to or rundown of all the results would be good. It's interesting that the Lincoln Park Arts school has 100% graduation rate, is number 1 in the county in reading and writing, and was in the top schools for science and math as well. Seems like those folks are doing wonderful things there, IMHO.

So does this mean Ambridge is going to cut our taxes? Because for what we pay, they have absolutely no excuses.

Or wait, could it be that throwing money at the problem doesn't help students to learn more? Could it be that building a new high school doesn't help students to learn more?

This should be a wake up call to everyone who thinks Baden Charter was a bad idea. Their worst day couldn't possibly be worse than what's going on in Ambridge's elementary schools.

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there are countless Ambridge students who are, in your words, dumb as bricks. They ring my doorbell selling their fundraising and can't do simple math. They answer questions with grunts and nods. I don't blame their school for this, however. Sadly this is typical of too many teens today. It's not the school's job to make sure a kid is socially healthy, it's their parents' job. Usually the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

After years of propaganda and millions spent we now find out it really wasn't the schools or the teachers it was the students. Chilldren who have the ability and the desire to learn will and those who don't will not. That's going to be a bitter pill for those parents to swallow. The sad part now is we have created the finacial monster of duplicate charter schools systems school with no better results. Parents are lining up to send their kids to a charter school in Baden with no track record of educating kids based on this propagada alone. Another is proposed in Aliquippa which can't afford the school system it has now yet alone adding more costs. It time for the legislature to abandon this ideology and start using the resouces we have in the most efficient manner. It's time to go to a county school system which will give the most options to all students.

Mommyx4..BTDT, I've done PACyber and PAVCS. I KNOW what kinds of students they get. Some are those that want to homeschool or want MORE out of their education. But for many, it is the end of the road, a final chance for an education. I've worked in the social services systerm. I've talked to all of my kids teachers at cybers and they are always amazed when they get responsible, engaged parents like myself and like you. BUT, there is a large chunk that are not like us. And Teaparty I just want to clarify that "social skills" come from parents and the environment that kids grow in. It is not supposed to come from school. So IF you are alluding that the kids you claim to know were uncivil because they had a home education, you need to get educated. Students don't go to school to be "social"--they go to to school to learning reading, writing and arithmetic![wink]

Thank you for a balanced article. So many about cyberschools are leaning toward wiping them off the board.

PACyber needs an overhaul. They need rid of NNDS, who supplies some of their curriculum, and they need a board that includes 3 to 4 parent members.

That being said, there are MANY cyberschools in PA that have a fair and balanced board and are running their schools in a pristine way.

BTW to the other commenter, most of these kids are not dropouts like you say. Many of the parents I talk to want their kids to learn, and they simply cannot in the B&M environment because of bullying or other anti-social behavior from the other kids. Many schools are not safe anymore.

It takes a huge commitment from parents to cyberschool, especially in the younger grades. Only those that have the time, energy and gifting to do this actually do cyberschool. Many of these people are simply independant thinkers who are of the homeschool bent.

We personally know 3 graduates of the Cyber School. Sad to say they have zero social skills and are dumb as bricks. This is not to say that this is the example of all of the Cyber attendees. But coupled with the latest test scores, shows the reality of a wasted government program. Cyber pays no taxes to Midland. It appears to be a haven for retired teachers who simply want additional income ontop of retirement benefits. Mr. Trom has added poison to the mix. Right or wrong perception is real.

Boy...Nick Trombetta really got out in the "nick" of time!!! Hmmmmm!?? Almost like he had a vision of the future! A large contingency(not all!) of cyber students are drop--outs from the brick and mortar schools...kids that couldn't function there or the teen moms, druggies, delinquints. So then you put them in a setting with very little accountability and this can happen. Maybe they got too big too fast...that happens with fame. When we used them I thought they had a good product...too bad the BCT can't crack this case and find out what is REALLY going on down there. I do like how they've taken over Midland...hard for the druggies and hookers to find business there especially at night with nothing but locked school buildings![wink]